Improvement in step-ladders



2 Sheets-S110J l- A M. M'EDART.

Siep-Ladder. Patented Feb.. 5,1878.

mmm

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

M. MEDART. Step-Ladder.

No. 199,922. Patented Feb. 5,1878.

ATTEST. TNVENTTTH.

N PETEHS, PHOT0-L|THOGHAPHER. WASHMGTON, D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.-

MARTIN MEDART, OF BELLEVILLE, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN STE'P-LADDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 199,922, dated February 5, 1878; application iiled October 8, 1877.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN MEDART, of Belleville, in the county of St. Clair and State of Illinois, have invented certain Improvements in Step-Ladders, of which the following :is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention consists, first, in the provision of an adjustable curved foot at the bottom of the ladder, which passes through an eye in the bottom of the step, said eye bein g providedwith a thumb-nut, so as to clamp and hold the adj ustable foot in any desired position. This construction allows the ladder to stand vertical on un even ground, as the adjustable foot will readily adapt itself to any inequalities of the ground.

Secondly, in providing the brace or connecting-rod with a projecting pin, which engages in one of a series of holes in one of the steps, so as to enable the legs to be adapted to any inequalities of the ground.

Thirdly, in pivoting at different heights the branches of each leg, so that as they are opened to support the ladder they will be extended laterally, and thus give a much rmer bearing to the ladder. The cross-bar of the brace has elongated eye-connection to the legs, to allow for this lateral movement.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation, showing the position of the legs when closed in full lines, and when open in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a detail plan of brace and connections. Fig. 4 is a detail front elevation of the adjustable foot.

A A are the side bars of the ladder, having steps B, as usual. C C are the legs, which branch at top into two branches, c c1, which are pivoted to the cross-piece a of the ladder at a diiferent height from the main legs C C, as shown in Fig. 2. By this construction the legs are caused to spread laterally as they are drawn out to support the ladder. D is the brace that holds the legs in position. This brace is provided With a cross-bar, D', which is connected by elongated eyes d to the eyes c2 of the legs C, so as to allow the lateral movement of said legs to take place. The brace, at its forward end, is provided with a pin, d', which engages in one of a series of holes, b,in one of the steps B. By changing the pin from one hole to another the legs will be turned, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, so as to adjust them to any inequalities of the ground.

When the ladder is not in use the brace D' will hang down between the legs O C, as shown in Fig. 2. p

E is an adjustable curved foot, having a bearing-face, e, at each side. This foot passes through an eye, el, secured to the step B, which is provided with a thumb-nut, e?, so as to lock the foot in any position. This construction allows the ladder to remain always vertical, as the foot E will adapt itself to any inequality or inclination of the ground, after which it is held firmly in position by thumb-nut e2.

I claim as my invention- 1. The curved foot E, in combination with the clamping-eye el, nut c2, and the foot of the ladder, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the ladder A B and holes b with the brace D, pin d', and legs C, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The legs O, having branches c c1 pivoted to the cross-piece a at a dierent height from the main legs C G, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The legs C, having branches c c1, pivoted at a different height from the main legs C C, to the cross-piece a of the ladder, in combination with the brace D, elongated eye d, and eye c2, as and for the purpose set forth.

MARTIN MEDART.

Witnesses ENos D. UsNER, SEBASTIAN FIE'rsAM. 

